MONROE -- Democrats accused First Selectman Steve Vavrek on Monday of shaking them down for campaign money through a series of pitches that include an invitation to a cocktail party fundraiser at the Stone Barn sent to their government and personal email addresses.

An email paid for by Vavrek For Monroe features a businesslike picture of Vavrek with the Town of Monroe seal to one side and a photograph of the town's gazebo across the top. Both the seal and the gazebo also appear prominently on the town's home page.

Sue Koneff, Monroe's Democratic registrar of voters, says those images are calculated to confuse recipients into thinking that Monroe Town Hall sanctions Vavrek's campaign for re-election.

"It gives the impression, using the town seal and the gazebo, which are in the town banner on its website, that this is an official government communication and that Steve Vavrek has the town support behind him," Koneff said. "He's appropriated these symbols. It's misleading, an abuse of power and just plain wrong."

Koneff and Board of Education member Alan Vaglivelo, who said they received a total of four emails to their municipal and personal email accounts, have filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission accusing Vavrek of violating state election law by "deliberately misappropriating" their email addresses maintained by the Town of Monroe for municipal purposes, and using them for his "personal political gain."

Both Koneff and Vaglivelo, in their SEEC complaint, charge that neither of them gave Vavrek or his campaign permission to use their personal email addresses, which they claim Vavrek might have access to because they subscribe to a email list server he uses for government announcements.

Vavrek responded to the SEEC complaint by scoffing at Koneff's motives and timing.

"I've never used town resources for campaign purposes," Vavrek said, "but it should be no surprise that the Democratic registrar of voters would make such an accusation two months before the election."

"My statement is my statement," Vavrek said. "I have meetings all afternoon as well as doing my job. Any further statements today will come from my campaign manager (John Puskar)" or from Republican Town Committee Chairman Jeff Guttman, he said.

"Having just come back from an anniversary vacation," Vavrek said, "I need to choose my elected job over political accusations."

In an email to Hearst Connecticut Newspapers, Puskar said, "We have no further comment."

Meanwhile, at the Stone Barn, banquet manager Christina Griffin confirmed that a cocktail party with dancing is slated for Vavrek on the date mentioned in the "Vavrek For Monroe" email that Koneff and other public servants received.

"I spoke to Steve (Vavrek) directly about it," Griffin said. "I don't have a head count yet, and I probably won't until a few days before it. The menu isn't firmed up either. But that's not unusual. It will probably be light hors d'oeuvres. Business casual."

Monroe Democratic Town Committee Chairman Nick Kapoor called Vavrek's solicitation to municipal employees on their government emails an "inappropriate" and "unethical act," saying he'd have the same reaction if the recipients were Republicans.

"Steve Vavrek is asking the people of Monroe for their vote for him to continue to be Monroe's chief elected official," Kapoor said. "However, it appears that he can't even get the correct email list to solicit campaign contributions... This is a misuse of Mr. Vavrek's office, inappropriate, unethical, and pending the investigation and decision of the SEEC, possibly illegal."

Joshua Foley, an SEEC attorney and spokesman, would neither confirm nor deny receipt of the Monroe Democrats' complaint. If the SEEC finds that Vavrek or his campaign violated state election law, it could seek a $5,000 fine and criminal charges that carry up to a five-year prison sentence.